Welcome to the Abbey Stadium, the 69-year-old
home of Cambridge United Football Club. You are about to embark upon a virtual
"tour" of the ground!
The pictures below are of the all-seater Main (east) Stand, with the home
bench visible at the halfway line. The 'away' dugout can be seen further towards
the away end - a legacy of the John Beck era when he wanted to prevent the opposition
coaching staff hearing his instructions. This view is from the home terracing
at the Newmarket Road end.
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| © Mark Driver |
The next picture is of the Main Stand again, but this time from the away terracing at the "Allotments End" (south terrace). You can see the Newmarket Road Stand in the background.
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| © Domark Group Ltd |
This is a view of the away terracing on the South Terrace ("Allotments End") as it is seen from the Newmarket Road end of the ground. The Habbin Stand can be seen on the right of the picture.
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| © Mark Driver |
Opposite the Main Stand is the Habbin Stand (below) which has more home terracing and an area of seating for away fans.
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| © Andrea Thrussell |
Here is a view of a packed North Terrace at the Newmarket Road End, also know as the 'Corona End' or 'Kop'.
Maybe you can spot yourself in the two (joined) pictures above, or know someone else? (Final game of 1996-97 season, vs. Fulham)
Here is the entrance to the Harris Suite under the Main Stand, and the back of the queue for one of the food outlets which serve the famous bacon rolls.
Also under the Main Stand are the dressing rooms and here are three pictures from the home dressing room (courtesy Graham Eales, CUFC). Note the sign on the wall in the first picture which reads "The biggest Crime in Football is to give the ball to the Opposition".
The dressing rooms were refurbished this summer (1998) so hopefully we can look forward to some updated pictures.
Below (left) you can see some of the weights equipment and (right) the now-retired kit man Roger Parker in the laundry room.
Finally, here is an aerial view of the ground from over the city (1997), looking towards the Main Stand with the Allotments End to the right and Newmarket Road to the left.
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| © Andrea Thrussell |
As you can see, it is neither a large nor glamorous stadium, but it is one of the 'tightest' grounds in the English League and when there is a good attendance the atmosphere can be electric.